re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread (Posted on 10/3/12 at 8:30 pm to LSUSOBEAST1)

quote:Lescott

Plays in a great team, but I think Kos is a better CB. Also Lescott can't play the ball out of the back, and isn't a good passer out of the back.

I mostly agree with the rest of your list, except you excluded Hummels, who is magnificent and Thiago Silva, who is the prototype for the type of CB that Kos should be.

quote:Coloccini Cahill Luiz Heitinga Jagielka Skrtel Per

I think Kos is a better CB than Jagielka. I don't think he gets enough credit for how good he is on the ball. His biggest problem is that he's suited to technical strikers and struggles against more powerful players. Hence why many larger CB's are more dominant than he is, but his skill set is as good as any in the world.

re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread (Posted on 10/3/12 at 8:33 pm to Dandy Lion)

quote:Beast, you'd should know by now, stats mean EVERYTHING on this board.

To be fair, stats can assist an argument in a major way at times. The only problem is that the "most tackles, interceptions" statistics weigh so heavily on the tactics of the team. In a squad without a strong defensive midfielder, the CBs will benefit and make more tackles. Also, a team who is possession minded will also skew those defensive categories in someone else's favor.

So while they are good indicators of a players strengths, it's unfair to base an argument on them.

re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread (Posted on 10/3/12 at 8:47 pm to LSUSOBEAST1)

I'm not saying it's the ends all, but when stats reinforce what I've watched for the past year plus, I pay attention. His stats are likely influenced by the fact he had to clean up for the less mobile Per and marauding TV5 whose risks leave us hanging frequently.

I agree with crazy, he still struggles with powerful strikers at times but has definitely improved in that area. I'd rate Kompany, Agger, and a healthy Vidic (though that's far gone) over him. He's in the same tier as those others you've mentioned. I'd say he's better but it's impossible to prove definitively.

re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread (Posted on 10/4/12 at 11:16 am to LSUSOBEAST1)

quote:Lescott is much better in the air, as well as better on the ground IMO. His tackle % from last year was pretty ridiculous.

Kos is pretty superb on the ground. Lescott generally plays in a deeper line, and is a last ditch defender. He'd struggle significantly in a high line as would lots of other very good CB's. Kos plays in a high line, and usually uses body position to prevent the striker from receiving the ball. He has speed rare for a CB. His reading of the game is pretty good as well.

I also don't think we should underrate how poor Lescott is on the ball. For a team that dominates possession as much as Man City do, that is fairly detrimental to their overall game.

re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread (Posted on 10/4/12 at 12:11 pm to DB10_AFC)

I dont follow any club religiously really. I watch whatever games are on tv, except the shitty ones. Ive gotta tell you though, I enjoy watching this group for Arsenal. With all the departures things could have gotten really bad, but there is a new energy there it seems.

re: Arsenal 2012/2013 Season Long Thread (Posted on 10/4/12 at 3:13 pm to LSUSOBEAST1)

I just don't see that. Thought there wasn't much more he could have done there with the manner in which that was whipped in.

Regardless, whether it's one or two is kind of pointless considering it's less than TV5 has made.

To be honest, I'm a little confused by your reasons for not rating him. Undersized height wise? He's 6'1 which is within an inch (more or less) of all those you mentioned outside of Per, Kompany, Agger, Skrtel and Heitinga. His build isn't bulky and he is a bit weaker than some of those. I also think some of those you mentioned have equal, if not more, capability for disaster. I think Kos still deals with the stigma from his first season, particularly the Birmingham miscue.